During the eight-hour operation, eight (8) additional police officers patrolled the City looking for impaired drivers. Three (3) people were arrested for DUI, four (4) vehicles were towed, one (1) person was arrested for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, and one hundred one (101) drivers were issued traffic citations.

DUI Saturation Patrols are a vital component in the fight against impaired drivers. The average American has a 30% chance of being killed or injured by an impaired driver. Nationally, impaired driving caused by alcohol or drugs causes one death every 30 minutes. Saturation patrols have been proven to reduce impaired driving-related collisions by removing these drivers from our streets.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “When more people drive sober and safely, lives are saved. It’s just that simple,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety. “This grant will help make Long Beach just that much safer of a place to live and work.”